thomson



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

W. S. THOMSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LADY S SKIRT.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 21,581, dated September 21, 1858.

To all 'LU/0m t may concer-n:

Be it known that I, W. S. THOMSON, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Eyelet-Fasteners for Attaching the Straps to the Hoops of Ladies Elastic Skirts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full description of the same.

The nature of my improvements consists in combining with an eyelet a metallic washer or fastener having attached to and forming a part thereof on two opposite sides arms or clasps, which when, bent upon the hoop firmly and securely attaches it to the suspendel' straps in which the eyelet has been fastened. But to describe my invention more particularly I will refer to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, the same letters of reference wherever they occur referring to like parts.

Figure l, represents a ladys skirt having the hoops attached to the suspender straps. Fig. 2, represents a section of one of the straps having the eyelet and fastener attached thereto. Figs. 3 and 4L represent the eyelet and fastener as independent of each other. Fig. 5 represents a section of the strap and hoop on the reverse side exhibiting the ends of the fastener bentdown upon the hoop or clasping it.

Letters a, are the suspender straps. In these at suitable distances apart are inserted eyelets 7). Upon or over their ends, and having the straps intervening, are placed metallic washers or fasteners c. Then thus adjusted, (and the ends or arms CZ, of the washers or fasteners at right angles to the line of the straps,) they are riveted together by the usual process, and thus securely and permanently united together. These washers or fasteners are formed by striking them out of thin metal by a die or punch, and by cutting away the metal from two sides of the perforation in them leaving an H shaped plate of metal, when looking at them in the line of the strap, and thus as the hoop g, crosses them in the direction of the cross of the H, allows the ends or arms (l, to be bent around the hoops, to clasp the whole together in the most substantial manner, and at the same time if desirable at any time, can be separated by unclasping the arms with the greatest possible ease.

As a means of attaching the straps and hoops together it will be obvious t-hat it is of immense superiority over the usual mode by stitching. In the multiplicity of t-hese parts to be stitched together, and the small compensation allowed to girls for such work, makes it next to an impossibility to watch the work to See that it is well and securely done. The consequences are that a day or twos wear of the skirt causes an almost certain derangement of the dress, and not unfrequently the most embarrassing circumstances to ladies when in the drawing room or on promenade. The importance therefore of this subject is of the gravest character, and to obviate so considerable an evil, to the otherwise valuable properties of the elastic skirt, has been the object of my invention. That I have done so, is not controvertible, and therefore desire to secure the sameby Letters Patent.

Having now described my improvements I will proceed to set forth what I claim and desire to secure by Lette-rs Patentof the United States.

Wlhat I claim isd The use of the H shaped washer or fastener, or equivalent, in combination with an eyelet as a means of fastening together the straps, and hoops of elastic skirts, substantially as set forth.

IV. S. THOMSON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES L. BARnrrr, B. RowLEY. 

